Belle was sitting before the fire, at which the kettle was boiling.

"Were you waiting for me ?" I inquired.

"Yes," said Belle, "I thought that you would come, and I waited for you." "That was very kind," said I.

"Not half so kind," said she, "as it was of you to get everything ready for me in the dead of last night, when there was scarcely a chance of my coming." The tea-things were brought forward, and we sat down.

"Have you been far ?" said Belle.